Final answer:
The arms race between plants and fungal pathogens involves a series of steps where the plant evolves new defense mechanisms in response to fungal toxins.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is Biology.
The arms race between plants and fungal pathogens involves a series of steps:
- Fungal spores land on the leaf surface.
- The plant recognizes the presence of the fungus and activates defense genes.
- The fungal pathogen produces toxins to counteract the plant's defenses.
- In response to the fungal toxins, the plant evolves new defense mechanisms.
This back and forth evolution between plants and fungi is an example of coevolution, where each organism evolves in response to the other's adaptations and counter-adaptations.